Paper 1, Section II, I

Algebraic Topology | Part II, 2017

Let XX be a topological space and let x0x_{0} and x1x_{1} be points of XX.

(a) Explain how a path u:[0,1]Xu:[0,1] \rightarrow X from x0x_{0} to x1x_{1} defines a map u:π1(X,x0)u_{\sharp}: \pi_{1}\left(X, x_{0}\right) \rightarrow π1(X,x1)\pi_{1}\left(X, x_{1}\right).

(b) Prove that uu_{\sharp} is an isomorphism of groups.

(c) Let α,β:(S1,1)(X,x0)\alpha, \beta:\left(S^{1}, 1\right) \rightarrow\left(X, x_{0}\right) be based loops in XX. Suppose that α,β\alpha, \beta are homotopic as unbased maps, i.e. the homotopy is not assumed to respect basepoints. Show that the corresponding elements of π1(X,x0)\pi_{1}\left(X, x_{0}\right) are conjugate.

(d) Take XX to be the 2-torus S1×S1S^{1} \times S^{1}. If α,β\alpha, \beta are homotopic as unbased loops as in part (c), then exhibit a based homotopy between them. Interpret this fact algebraically.

(e) Exhibit a pair of elements in the fundamental group of S1S1S^{1} \vee S^{1} which are homotopic as unbased loops but not as based loops. Justify your answer.

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